A two-story apartment complex was floated over from Victoria, B.C., to be used as affordable housing as part of a partnership between the City of Port Townsend and Homeward Bound, a land trust group. (Cydney McFarland/Peninsula Daily News)

Port Townsend working with Homeward Bound on affordable housing

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend City Council will look at a resolution to help fund Homeward Bound, a local land trust, that has been working with the city to provide more affordable housing.

Homeward Bound, formerly the Olympic Housing Trust, is a Port Townsend based non-profit that works to acquire land for affordable housing options for working families and individuals.

According item submitted by City Manager David Timmons, the city staff has recommended that the city should provide a grant to Homeward Bound not exceeding $30,000.

The $30,000 will not be an added expense to the city. According to Timmons, the city budgeted $30,000 in 2016 for an OlyCAP contract for a capacity study of housing providers.

OlyCAP was not able to carry out the study due to some other priorities, so the money is still available to be used for other affordable housing projects.

The $30,000 would go to Homeward Bound for activities related to its recent reorganization, including updating legal documents and policies.

According to the recommendation written by Timmons, the $30,000 would be a matching fund. The city would match other funding acquired by Homeward Bound up to $30,000.

Homeward Bound recently started working with the city in a much greater capacity than in the past. The city and Homeward Bound partnered up to bring a two-story apartment complex over from Victoria to function as long-term affordable housing.

The apartment building is currently placed on a small plot of land at the corner of Cherry and Van Ness streets which the city designated as surplus earlier this year specifically for this project.

The apartment is still under construction. The plan is to build a foundation and frame out a lower level, so the complex will eventually have three stories.

The apartments are expected to be open to rent in the fall and will be rented for no more than $900 to $1,000 per month plus utilities.

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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.